Teacher in Colombia investigated by police after confiscating World Cup stickers from kids to fill his own Panini album

A storm has erupted in Colombia after a school teacher was caught in a sticky situation for using Panini stickers he had confiscated from his students to fill his own World Cup album.

A 13-year-old boy reported the incident to the police who are now investigating the matter.

Panini sticker fever has swept across the South American nation ever since the official Fifa World Cup album was released a few weeks ago. Makeshift stands have sprung up across the country’s major cities with packs trading at 37p.

But one teacher from the Colombian city of Bucaramanga went to extreme lengths to find the 640 stickers needed to complete the Brazil album.

After banning his students from swapping the popular stickers, the unnamed teacher then began confiscating packs in a measure aimed at 'maintaining order and discipline' in the classroom.

But suspicions were later raised when the teacher refused to return stickers to children and was later caught pasting the confiscated items into his own Panini album while chatting with other teachers in the staff room.

One forlorn 13-year-old student reported the incident to the police who will now investigate. Parents have also lodged a complaint with school authorities.

'This is no way to set an example to children; taking away stickers for your own benefit,' one mother grumbled to Colombian national radio station RCN.

It is unknown whether the teacher managed to fill his World Cup album, but the kids have vowed to stick together until they get their swap piles back.

Wanted: Panini World Cup stickers have proved popular in Colombia, the home country of striker Falcao (right)